Swivel rocking chair

ABSTRACT

A swivel rocking chair in which the chair is resiliently controlled during rocking movement by a leaf spring arrangement connected between the swivel and the moveable part of the chair.

Unite States Patent 1191 Lange, .11.

[ SWIVEL ROCKING CHAIR [76] Inventor: Clement Lange, Jr., R.R. No. 2,

. l-luntingburg, Ind. 47532 [22] Filed: Mar. 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:337,412

[52] US. Cl 297/263, 297/301, 297/349 [51] Int. Cl. A471: 3/02 [58]Field of Search 297/263, 270, 261, 268, 297/264, 258, 349, 270, DIG. 7,301;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1929 Selje 297/3022,724,945 11/1955 McGhee 312/341 NR 3,141,700 7/1964 Fletcher 297/1910.7 3,333,811 8/1967 Matthews 297/264 3,369,840 2/1968 Dufton 297/3033,603,641 9/1971 Knabusch 297/1310. 7

Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Melvin A.Crosby [5 7] ABSTRACT A swivel rocking chair in which the chair isresiliently controlled during rocking movement by a leaf springarrangement connected between the swivel and the moveable part of thechair.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIE mm 31am FIG so I

FIG-9- The present invention relates to swivel chairs, and in particularto a swivel chair which is also tiltable or rockable.

In chairs of the nature referred to, the spring arrangement by means ofwhich the upper part of the chair is resiliently biased toward a restposition on the base has been expensive and troublesome and alsodifficult of adjustment. Heretofore, the springs have usually been inthe form of coiled compression springs requiring special supportingarrangements and often breaking in use.

With the foregoing in mind, a primary objective of the present inventionis the provision of the construction of a chair of the nature referredto in which the problems mentioned are eliminated.

A particular object of the present invention is the provision of aspringarrangement in a rocking chair, particularly a swivel rocking chair, inwhich coil springs and the troubles attendant thereto are eliminated.

The foregoing objects as well as other objects and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparentupon reference, to thefollowing detailed specification taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is .a somewhat schematic perspective view showing a chair of thenature with which the present invention is concerned.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the lower portion ofthe chair and is indicated schematically by line Il-II on FIG. ll.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic vertical transverse sectional viewindicated by line III-III on FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified arrangementfor fixedly connecting the leaf spring to a part of the swivel.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the addition of aclamping strap to the spring to assist in holding the spring fixedly onthe swivel member. I

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view showing a modification in which the springis adjustable.

FIG/7 is a fragmentary view showing how low friction bushings could beemployed at the pivot points.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view showing a modified arrangement forconnecting the outer end of the leaf spring to the moveable part of thechair structure.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing a multiple leaf spring.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

According to the present invention, a chair is provided consisting of anupper part and a lower, or base, part. The base part rests on the floorand the upper part is connected thereto via a substantially conventionalswivel arrangement which permits rotation of the upper part on the lowerpart.

The upper part is pivotally connected to the portion of the swivelpertaining thereto for tilting movement in a fore and aft direction andthis movement is restrained by a leaf spring having one end fixed to thepart of the swivel pertaining to the upper part of the chair and havingthe other end part flexibly connected with the upper part of the chairthereby continuously biasing the upper part of the chair toward a restposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, the chair illustratedin FIG. 1 comprises an upper part 10 and a lower, or base, part 12. Theupper part 10 is rotatable on the lower part as indicated by arrow 14and is also tiltable or rockable thereon as indicated by arrow 15. Y

As will be seen in FIG. 2, the upper part 10 may comprise a frame at thebottom consisting of interconnecting rails to form a downwardly openingbox structure. Extending transversely in the box structure is a supportrail 16 which may be connected to the box structure as by dowels 18 oras by cleats 20 or in any other suitable manner. As will be seen in FIG.3, the extreme ends of support rail 16 are connected to the structureIf).

The bottom part 12, namely, the base of the chair, has a swivelstructure resting thereon consisting of a lower swivel part 22 fixed tothe base and an upper swivel part 24 which is rotatably supported onlower part 22 as by balls 26. The two parts of the swivel areheldcaptive to each other in any suitable manner as by a center post 28.The aforementioned upper part of the swivel 24 has upstanding tabs orbrackets 30 at the side which are pivotally connected to the dependenttabs or brackets 32 on support rail 16. The pivotal interconnection ofthe tabs or brackets 30', 32 provides a horizontal pivot axis on whichthe upper part of the chair can tilt on the lower, or base part, 12.

The upper part of the chair is resiliently biased toward a certain restposition by a leaf spring 34, one end of which is fixedly connected toupper part 24 of the swivel as by screws 36 while the other end is connected to a pin 38 to which are connected side links 40 leading upwardlyand connected to another pin 42 that is carried by a bracket 44 fixed tothe upper part of the chair. The leaf spring preferably tapers inwardlytoward pin 38 and may be formed with a loop to re ceive pin 38.

'The arrangement is such that the upper .part of the chair is freelytiltable on the base 12 and the spring 34 can be constructed to provideany degree of bias on the upper part of the chair when it is tilted. Thespring 34 is relatively free of breakage and isquite inexpensive and issimple to construct and install in the manner illustrated and described.

The end of the leaf spring adjacent the upper part of the swivel membermay be attached thereto as indicated at 46 in FIG. 4, by screws, orrivets, and this connection may be reinforced by a strip 48 extendingover the top of the leaf spring and attached as by screws, or rivets, tothe upper part 24 of the swivel member. Strap 48 will prevent theconnection at 46 joining the leaf spring to the upper part of the swivelfrom being overstressed.

FIG. 5 shows the end of the spring welded, as at 47, to upper part 24,while strap 48 is also welded to part 24, as at 49.

The leaf spring arrangement of the present invention also lends itselfto adjustability and an adjustable arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 6.In FIG. 6, the outer end of the spring, indicated at 50, is bifurcatedand engages a pin 52 in which is rotatable a screw 54. Screw 54 threadsthrough an upper pin 56 which is retained by the bifurcated bracket 58mounted on the upper part 10 of the chair structure. The screw 54, whichmay have an actuating knob 60 on the bottom, provides a ready means foradjusting the rest position of the chair.

FIG. 7 shows how low friction bushing means as at 62, nylon, forexample, could be interposed between a pivot pin 64 and a supportingmember 66 to provide for substantially friction free conditions at thepivot pin and also to provide for quiet maintenance free operation ofthe arrangement.

FIG. 8 shows how the outer end of a leaf spring 70 could be arranged inadjacent relation to a bracket 72 connected to the upper part 10 of thechair with the bracket having a slot 74 through which a bolt 76 extendsand which bolt also passes through the outer end of the spring. Washers,such as nylon, at 78 provide for reduction of friction between the outerend of the spring and the bracket so that as the chair tilts the outerend of the spring can move longitudinally relative to the bracket.

The usual arrangement would require only a single leaf spring, but it iscontemplated that a multiple leaf spring could also be employed. Such aspring is shown in FIG. 9 and comprises alower leaf 80 substantially thesame as leaf spring 34 and upper and shorter leaves 82 which are held inassembled relation with the upper leaf 80 in any conventional and wellknown manner common in the leaf spring art.

Modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

L ln a swivel rocking chair; a base frame adapted to rest on a floor anda seat frame for supporting the back and seat of the chair, a swivelcomprising upper and lower elements rotatable interengaged and defininga vertical pivot axis, said swivel adapted for supporting the seat frameon top of the base frame while permitting rotation of the seat frameabout a vertical axis on the base frame, first horizontal pivot meansconnecting said upper element of the swivel to said seat frame andsecond means connecting said lower element of the swivel to said baseframe, said horizontal pivot means defining a horizontal axis ofrotation about which said seat frame is tiltable relative to said upperelement and said second means comprising a rigid connection, saidhorizontal axis intersecting said vertical axis, a substantiallyhorizontal leaf spring extending in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to both of said axes beneath said seat frame and in thefore and aft direction of said seat frame, first connecting meansfixedly connecting one end of said spring to said upper element of saidswivel, and a second connecting means connecting the other end of saidleaf spring to said seat frame and flexible in the direction of thelength of said leaf spring, said leaf spring biasing said seat frametoward a predetermined rest position about said horizontal axis andbeing yieldable in response to tilting of said seat frame in eitherdirection about said horizontal axis.

2. A swivel rocking chair according to claim 1 in which said secondconnecting means comprises link means at the other end of said leafspring extending generally vertically, first pivot means pivotallyconnecting the lower end of said link means to said other end of saidleaf spring, and second pivot means pivotally connecting the upper endof said link means to said seat frame.

3. A swivel rocking chair according to claim 1 in which said leaf springis thickest adjacent said one end thereof and tapers inwardly toward theother end thereof.

4. A swivel rocking chair according to claim 2 in which said first pivotmeans comprises a loop formed in said other end of said leaf spring anda pin extending through said loop in said other end of said leaf springand connected to said link means.

5. A swivel rocking chair according to claim 2 in which said first pivotmeans comprises a loop formed in said other end of said leaf spring anda pin extending through said loop in said other end of said leaf springand connected to said link means, said second pivot means comprising abracket connected to said seat frame and having a loop formed therein,and a pin extending through the loop in said bracket and connected tosaid link means.

6. A swivel rocking chair according to claim 5 which includes lowfriction wear resistant bushings interposed between said pins and therespective loops.

7. A swivel rocking chair according to claim 1 in which said leaf springcomprises at least two leaves in superposed relation.

8. A swivel rocking chair according to claim 5 in which said pivot meanscomprises pins and said link means is a screw rotatable in one of saidpins and threadedly engaging the other thereof.

9. A swivel rocking chair according to claim 1 in which the connectionbetween said other end of said leaf spring to said seat frame is asliding connection.

10. In combination; a lower swivel element, an upper swivel elementcaptive on said lower swivel element and rotatable thereon about a firstvertical axis, a support member pivotally supported on said upper swivelelement for tilting movement on said upper swivel element about a secondhorizontal axis perpendicular to and intersecting said first axis, andleaf spring means having one end fixed to said upper swivel element andextending horizontally therefrom and in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to both of said axes, said lower swivel element adaptedfor connection to a stationary lower frame, said support member and theother end of said leaf spring means adapted for connection to an upperend of said leaf spring means adapted for connecton to an upper frame tosupport the upper frame for rotation and tilting on said lower frame.

1. In a swivel rocking chair; a base frame adapted to rest on a floorand a seat frame for supporting the back and seat of the chair, a swivelcomprising upper and lower elements rotatable interengaged and defininga vertical pivot axis, said swivel adapted for supporting the seat frameon top of the base frame while permitting rotation of the seat frameabout a vertical axis on the base frame, first horizontal pivot meansconnecting said upper element of the swivel to said seat frame andsecond means connecting said lower element of the swivel to said baseframe, said horizontal pivot means defining a horizontal axis ofrotation about which said seat frame is tiltable relative to said upperelement and said second means comprising a rigid connection, saidhorizontal axis intersecting said vertical axis, a substantiallyhorizontal leaf spring extending in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to both of said axes beneath said seat frame and in thefore and aft direction of said seat frame, first connecting meansfixedly connecting one end of said spring to said upper element of saidswivel, and a second connecting means connecting the other end of saidleaf spring to said seat frame and flexible in the direction of thelength of said leaf spring, said leaf spring biasing said seat frametoward a predetermined rest position about said horizontal axis andbeing yieldable in response to tilting of said seat frame in eitherdirection about said horizontal axis.
 2. A swivel rocking chairaccording to claim 1 in which said second connecting means compriseslink means at the other end of said leaf spring extending generallyvertically, first pivot means pivotally connecting the lower end of saidlink means to said other end of said leaf spring, and second pivot meanspivotally connecting the upper end of said link means to said seatframe.
 3. A swivel rocking chair according to claim 1 in which said leafspring is thickest adjacent said one end thereof and tapers inwardlytoward the other end thereof.
 4. A swivel rocking chair according toclaim 2 in which said first pivot means comprises a loop formed in saidother end of said leaf spring and a pin extending through said loop insaid other end of said leaf spring and connected to said link means. 5.A swivel rocking chair according to claim 2 in which said first pivotmeans comprises a loop formed in said other end of said leaf spring anda pin extending through said loop in said other end of said leaf springand connected to said link means, said second pivot means comprising abracket connected to said seat frame and having a loop formed therein,and a pin extending through the loop in said bracket and connected tosaid link means.
 6. A swivel rocking chair according to claim 5 whichincludes low friction wear resistant bushings interposed between saidpins and the respective loops.
 7. A swivel rocking chair according toclaim 1 in which said leaf spring comprises at least two leaves insuperposed relation.
 8. A swivel rocking chair according to claim 5 inwhich said pivot means comprises pins and said link means is a screwrotatable in one of said pins and threadedly engaging the other thereof.9. A swivel rocking chair according to claim 1 in which the connectionbetween said other end of said leaf spring to said seat frame is asliding connection.
 10. In combination; a lower swivel element, an upperswivEl element captive on said lower swivel element and rotatablethereon about a first vertical axis, a support member pivotallysupported on said upper swivel element for tilting movement on saidupper swivel element about a second horizontal axis perpendicular to andintersecting said first axis, and leaf spring means having one end fixedto said upper swivel element and extending horizontally therefrom and ina direction substantially perpendicular to both of said axes, said lowerswivel element adapted for connection to a stationary lower frame, saidsupport member and the other end of said leaf spring means adapted forconnection to an upper end of said leaf spring means adapted forconnecton to an upper frame to support the upper frame for rotation andtilting on said lower frame.